Beats’ picks: Will Duke women’s basketball take rematch against North Carolina in regular-season finale?

On Sunday afternoon, loads is at stake for Duke: A rivalry win, a convention title and a season undefeated inside Cameron Indoor Stadium all dangle within the steadiness. With North Carolina set to go to the Blue Devils at 12 p.m. Sunday for the regular-season finale, our beat writers make their predictions.

Em Adler: Duke 58-55

North Carolina has been fairly mediocre for many of its video games following the primary Tobacco Highway assembly, however a lot of that was because of lacking each its finest participant and its finest shooter in Alyssa Ustby and Eva Hodgson, respectively. The Tar Heels have been wholesome Thursday and almost beat No. 9 Virginia Tech. However the Hokies are a greater matchup for them, and Duke solely misplaced to North Carolina, in Chapel Hill, with Celeste Taylor a non-factor, by simply six factors, and the Blue Satan offense has solely seemed higher since. I’ll aspect with Duke (and the below).

Leah Boyd: Duke 55-53

It’ll be Duke, however it is not going to be as fairly as Duke followers love a victory over North Carolina to be. The final meetup between the 2 groups would have probably led to Duke’s favor if the primary quarter, effectively, didn’t occur. The opening body featured eight missed pictures, eight fouls and eight turnovers from Duke. An enormous turnout from the Cameron Crazies might alleviate a number of the jitters Duke confirmed in entrance of a packed Carmichael Area, but when the identical uncharacteristic shakes that damage Duke towards Virginia and Virginia Tech come to gentle, I could be flawed twice this season.

Dom Fenoglio: Duke 57-52

To be able to full the season undefeated at dwelling, the Blue Devils will want an entire efficiency on each ends of the court docket. Duke has extra to lose than Carolina has to achieve, which at all times spells a tough matchup. Whereas the Blue Devils might battle to search out the underside of the web at factors, they are going to finally draw back due to their protection, the very motive they’re 24-4.

Martin Heintzelman: North Carolina 60-57

The Blue Devils are using on the snug cushion of a 24-4 document, headlined by deep expertise that simply will get higher with each recreation. Positive, a type of unfortunate 4 video games was towards their Tobacco Highway rival, however Sunday is not going to be taking place in Chapel Hill. This dwelling matchup additionally comes a lot later within the season, and head coach Kara Lawson’s dynamic lineup has extra expertise coping with tough ACC opponents. An eight-point win won’t be too tough for the Blue Devils to shut out their common season.

Garrett Spooner: Duke 58-51

Though Duke scored an ACC-play-high of 77 factors in its final contest towards N.C. State, anticipate this one to be fairly completely different. In Chapel Hill earlier this yr, the Blue Devils had simply 13 subject targets towards North Carolina of their shut 61-56 loss. Protection was the secret then, and it’ll keep the identical Sunday afternoon. To come back out with a victory in entrance of what certainly will likely be a tightly packed Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke’s leaders — Taylor, Shayeann Day-Wilson and Elizabeth Balogun — might want to present up on each side of the ball. 

Mackenzie Sheehy: Duke 61-58

Duke has had a historic season, and a win towards North Carolina could be icing on the cake. Defying expectations, the Blue Devils are presently tied atop the ACC and have taken down perennial powerhouses like N.C. State and Notre Dame. That being mentioned, the Tar Heels is not going to go down with out a struggle, and no Duke-North Carolina recreation is ever easy. The Blue Devils will need to have an entire recreation with superior play on each ends of the courts, however they’re able to operating North Carolina out of Cameron Indoor. With the Crazies cheering them on and an undefeated dwelling document to guard, Duke can obtain victory.